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I don't know who all will be back or who is healthy? Hampton, Farrior, Foote, Max, Cotch, Ward, etc. Or who will be emerging Sanders, Saunders, Allen, Brown, etc.

But the bottom line, the key to success is the play by Ben + Troy + Defensive front 7. Then I'd say our TEs are the next most important. Followed by the Oline. And then the skill guys - WRs/CBs. And lastly the RBs.

When I look at our roster, we have a bunch of good players, but 3 stars in Ben, Troy, and Deebo.

And when I think about how we improve our team, I am left with one question, do we improve our weakness or our strength?

It's obvious we need to improve our OLine. But will that help overall as much as improving our D? I'm leaning to wanting our 4th star player.

Re: Rank the Players In Terms of Importance to Winning #7

2. Harrison- Ahead of Troy only because the Steelers need his pass rushing to get back to where it was.

3. Troy- not much between Troy & Harrison.

4. Gilbert- Huh?? Moves from RT to LT. The Steelers can't afford a drop-off in play level. His role next season is vital.

5. Pouncey- Steelers need to get better along the OL. The best player on that line needs to lift his game & lead the way.

6. Hampton- or whoever replaces Hampton. Smith & Hoke are gone. Keisel is getting old. The NT position is probably the focal point of a 3-4 defense. If the play of the NT deteriorates, the play of the ILB's behind him suffers.

7. Mendenhall- The Steelers will be trying to pound the ball more. Redman is the fan favourite at the moment- but Mendy is still the #1. With improved play from the OL (hope!), a more crucial role for Mendy is in the works.

8. Brett Keisel- regardless of Hampton coming back or not, Keisel will be one of the senior players on the team. His leadership on the field will set the tone for what could be a much younger team in 2012.

9. Woodley- like Harrison, he needs to get more pressure on the QB this year.

10. Willie Colon- The Steelers will be relying on Colon to step in at RT & be a leader for the OL. He's paid like one, after all. If the team really does want to be more blue collar, better blocking up front is vital.

I don't know who all will be back or who is healthy? Hampton, Farrior, Foote, Max, Cotch, Ward, etc. Or who will be emerging Sanders, Saunders, Allen, Brown, etc.

But the bottom line, the key to success is the play by Ben + Troy + Defensive front 7. Then I'd say our TEs are the next most important. Followed by the Oline. And then the skill guys - WRs/CBs. And lastly the RBs.

When I look at our roster, we have a bunch of good players, but 3 stars in Ben, Troy, and Deebo.

And when I think about how we improve our team, I am left with one question, do we improve our weakness or our strength?

It's obvious we need to improve our OLine. But will that help overall as much as improving our D? I'm leaning to wanting our 4th star player.

Just curious as to why you have the backup TE as being more important than any of our wideouts or o-linemen or running backs.

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Re: Rank the Players In Terms of Importance to Winning #7

I'll take a different approach, for the Steelers to win number 7 next year Brn and Troy are one and two you can put them in the order that you see fit. They both need to be healthy and play in all 16 regular season games and the playoffs at 90% or better.

After that, based on what will be happening to the team due to retirement, cuts, and decline in play due to age I believe that Heyward and Hood, followed by Gilbert and Pouncey are the keys.

We know we need the veterans to perform at All-Pro levels that's a given, but with HOke gone, Smith to follow and Hampton a reduced role or cut the Steelers will need Hood and Heyward to become close to pro-bowl DEs next year.

After that or equal to that Gilbert needs to continue to improve and Pouncey needs to stay healthy to help limit the pressure form the middle on Ben.

So, for me:

Ben
Troy
Hood
Heyward
Pouncey
Gilbert

The vets aren't going to be there any longer on defense the younguns need to become as good as those guys were very soon. Harrison and Woodley will be there, that's a given or as close to a given as you can have, so it will be incumbent on the young players to become the players the Steelers believed they would when they drafted them.

If players 3 through 6 are only average or above average the Steelers will be average or slightly above average on both sides of the ball. On defense they'll be susceptible to the run and on offense, Ben will be injured and not playing effectively for an entire season if Pouncey and Gilbert don't play well.

Pappy

The referee said that you hit Brian Sipe too hard. Did you hit him too hard?
I hit him as hard as I could - Jack Lambert

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Re: Rank the Players In Terms of Importance to Winning #7

Just curious as to why you have the backup TE as being more important than any of our wideouts or o-linemen or running backs.

To me it's positional importance/impact more than anything.

TEs are the second most important position on the offense after QB. They run/pass block. They open up the running game pulling LBs out of the box. They open up the receiving routes by pulling away LBs/Ss from the outside. I view them as an extended part of the OLine.

Of course Saunders has to develop and become good. He's not as good a player as any of the others listed below him.

I probably should move him down a notch below Farrior/Foote/Sly/replacement at ILB. I just wasn't sure who that is.